Don Dhet

Accommodation

There are countless bungalows lining both the sunrise side and the sunset side of Don Dhet, most having some combination of the words “river”, “sunset”, “sunrise”, “bungalows” or “mama” in the name. Quality ranges tremendously, from flimsy shacks that will blow away in the next storm, to concrete air-con jobs with hot water. Don’t leave anything valuable in the bungalow, don’t count on the WiFi working, and lLight sleepers: count on needing ear plugs.

Sunrise Side

This is the most developed part of Don Dhet and disembarking from the boat puts you at the top of it. Expect bungalow after bungalow after bungalow running down the coast for several kilometres.

The craziest thing about Crazy Gecko is the excellent value for the price—this isn’t your typical Don Dhet hovel and flashpackers will be pleased with these clean, smart rooms.
There are four rooms, all upstairs, the entrances accessed by one oversized terrace that has hammocks galore and a partial river view. The wooden rooms have been done up with thoughtful details that make the... Read our full review of Crazy Gecko.

There’s no shortage of riverside bungalows on Don Dhet but finding a clean one that won’t have you hearing your neighbour’s every exhale is another matter. Mama Leuah is such a place.
Mama Leuah is located away from the main metropolis of accommodation, two kilometres south of the boat landing. This means the property has a relatively wide section of river front and their inexpensive,... Read our full review of Mama Leuah Guesthouse.

It’s not all bamboo shacks on Don Dhet. Baba Guesthouse is a modern two-storey building that is a reasonable stroll from the boat landing but far enough from the crowded tourist strip.
Baba Guesthouse fits the mould of a classic guesthouse room with tile floor, solid walls, air-con and WiFi. Rooms are clean, simple and tasteful, each with a private balcony. The upstairs rooms are high enough... Read our full review of Baba Guesthouse.

We’re haven’t decided yet if Don Det Bungalows has the best name for accommodation on the island or the worst.
Completely generic yet admirably accurate name aside, the bungalows are excellent. The curb appeal helps too. The two rows of raised bungalows are adorned with gingerbread trim, bamboo thatch and surrounded by picket fence as well as a tidily kept litter-free garden—this was in... Read our full review of Don Det Bungalows.

Wood bungalows, tepee huts and dorms may not be to every backpacker’s liking and as an alternative, Le Bi Jou Guesthouse could be the solid air-con accommodation people are looking for.
With a location right in the tourist strip in Ban Hua Det village (the boat landing), Le Bi Jou’s modern two storey building has rooms that have all that a flashpacker needs.
The rooms are enormous and... Read our full review of Le Bi Jou Guesthouse.

It’s a tale of two accommodation at Mr Tho’s, the original river bungalows with the enormous communal balcony equipped with hammocks and perfectly shaded throughout the day, and then the 2016 upgrade which delivered modern building blocks across the lane and flashy two-storey concrete and tile affairs with air-con.
The wooden bungalows on the river remain the more popular and economic of... Read our full review of Mr Tho’s Bungalows.

Conveniently close to the boat landing and tourist hub, Dalom Guesthouse has both wooden fan bungalows and a concrete building equipped with air-con. For those interested in being close to the bars and tourist shops, this could be a good option.
Lined up within a fenced-in compound, the sturdy wooden bungalows have a dated cottage feel—there’s something about the wood veneer walls, silky... Read our full review of Dalom Guesthouse.

At Mama Piang backpackers can choose from basic wooden riverside bungalows or rooms in a solid building across the road.
Both kinds of accommodation are served up with hospitality from mama herself. She’s friendly to the point where it’s charmingly whacky. This kind of enthusiasm for guests and friendliness is refreshing on Don Dhet, a place where so many business owners seems indifferent... Read our full review of Mama Piang.

Little Eden is the closest accommodation to the boat landing and its swimming pool entices hot, tired arriving travellers and tempts backpackers to take the plunge with their wallet.
The hotel is located at the tip of Don Dhet, a relatively large property that stretches all the way to their restaurant terrace on the river sunset side. The modern buildings clearly aims for the mid-market... Read our full review of Little Eden.

Those who crave a chilled out hostel atmosphere or are counting every kip in their budget, Easy Go Backpacker is the answer. This is as close to a “beach” backpacker joint as you’ll find on the island and it doesn’t get much cheaper than their 25,000 kip dorms.
The dorm rooms are on the upper floor of a two storey building. Within rustic wooden walls there are five beds with a hard... Read our full review of Easy Go Backpacker.

There’s no shortage of cheap bungalows on Don Dhet and we endeavoured to find a few recommendable joints, ones that wouldn’t blow down if you sneezed or make you question why it cost 30,000 kip—Sengthavan 1 is such a place.
Their 30,000 kip bungalow on the river has three rooms to one building, constructed of wooden planks. The balcony with hammock is great, and we give points for... Read our full review of Sengthavan Bungalows.

Perched on the riverbanks, the generically named Sunset View Bungalow is located on the west coast beside Happy Bar, walking distance from the boat landing.
Aside from a lengthy deck with hammocks, hammocks and more hammocks, there’s nothing particularly remarkable about this place and on the flip side, nothing too controversial except them being heavy handed with the air freshener.... Read our full review of Sunset View Bungalow.

Whether Tena 1 Guesthouse is good or not depends on what you pay for the room, and we wouldn’t pay more than the 50,000 kip for a double that we were quoted as a walk-in customer.
That price is about right, which is paying 20,000 kip more than the usual basic bungalow and in return getting solid walls, a private bathroom and a river view. Climb the steep stairs to a communal balcony that... Read our full review of Tena 1 Guesthouse.

The Last Resort is physically no longer the last resort—its neighbour Easy Go Backpackers is further south—it still feels remote given the 1.5 km hike from the boat landing to this spot on the quieter sunset side of the island.
Some will love the hippie-ish ultra-laidback earthy vibe and the unique accommodation: grass thatch teepee. For others, this would literally be their last resort... Read our full review of The Last Resort.